Inking device for typewriters



NUV- 2l, 1950 R. H. HIGGINS 2,530597 INKING DEVICE FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed June 27. 1947 INVENTOR BY M10-va.

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,530,697 INKING DEVICE FOR TYPEWRITERS Robert H. Higgins, Southampton, N. Y. Application June 27, 1947, Serial No. 757,595

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to the general class of inking devices for typewriters, and more specifically to an improved stationary inking appliance of the non-movable type forming a component part of the typewriter, by means of which the impressions from the type bars of the machine may be transferred to a paper sheet with clarity, and without splashing or blurring the inked impression. By the utilization of the inking system of my invention, the use of the existing movable inked ribbons and their feeding mechanism is eliminated and the typewriter is equipped with a durable and stationary inking mechanism that is simple in construction and operation and not likely to be disarranged during the operation of the typewriter.

The inking appliance consists of a minimum number of parts that may with facility be manufactured at low cost of production and assembled with convenience, and the appliance, as a unit, may readily be applied to existing typewriters as an efficient substitute for the usual inked ribbon and its feeding mechanism.

The invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will hereinafter be described in detail, and more particularly set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a complete example of a physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged in accordance with one mode I have devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention. It will, however, be understood that various changes and alterations are contemplated and may be made in these exemplifying drawings, within the scope of my claims, without departing from the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 is a view in elevation, as seen from the rear of a typewriter, showing a physical embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view at line 2-2 of Fig. l showing the ink pads or tabs; and

Figure 3 is an end view of the appliance as seen from the right in Fig. 1.

In order that the general arrangement and utility of parts may be readily understood I have disclosed in the assembly view Fig. 1 a portion of a typewriter frame A, one of the lateral spacing scales B, and the usual or standard type bar guides G that are spaced apart for reception of a, typewriter type bar, the pads of my invention being supported directly in front of the extended type bar guide.

As best seen in Fig. 2 the pad, or pads I and 2, are each manufactured in the shape of a thin iiat mat of porous composition or fibrous material that is adapted to absorb and be impregnated by the ink or other writing fluid, and the exposed face of a pad is mounted in position with relation to a paper sheet for transferring, in ink, the impression of the type bar, under impact, when the key lever is depressed in usual manner and the type bar begins to enter the type bar guide.

The unexposed faces of these absorbent mats are each backed by a rigidly attached non-porous and non-absorbent layer or sheet, as 3 and 4, which sheets are preferably made of pliant and resilient or elastic material, such as rubberized fabric or tape, or other suitable material that is durable and capable of resisting wear that would otherwise occur under impact from the type bars. These wear-resisting sheets form component parts of the ink pads, which are located in the path of the striking type bars, and they serve to stiffen the pads and thereby maintain their proper working condition.

For supporting the ink pad, or pads in proper working position with relation to the type bar guides G, they are equipped with and enclosed by fiat tubular holders 5 and 6 that form distributing reservoirs for the writing fluid that is supplied by gravity-feed, or forced feed to the absorbent mats of the inking pads, through upwardly converging tubular arms 'l and 8 that form feed lines or ducts for the ink or writing uid,

At their upper ends these ducts converge toward and are attached to a single pipe 9 that is equipped with a governing valve I that may be manually controlled to regulate the supply of ink from a main reservoir Il, whichis provided with a bottom outlet port l 2, and an angular outlet pipe or tube I3 which is adjustably connected with the ink pipe 9 above the valve IG.

The main reservoir Il in its top wall is provided with an inlet opening that is closed by a suitable screw cap or plug I4, and the reservoir may be supported from the frame of the typewriter by means of an upright post EE and its rigid yoke I6, and the reservoir may be adjusted in the yoke and fixed in adjusted position by means of a set screw il threaded through the yoke for impingement against the adjusted reservoir.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. ,In a gravity feed inking appliance for the type bars of a typewriter, the combination with a main reservoir and means for its attachment 13o-a typewriter, of a pair of absorbent inking pads disposed in the impact path of a type bar, over which the type of a type bar moves, each pad having a non-absorbent and resilient backing sheet, holders for the pads each forming an enclosing distributing reservoir, and tubular connections between the main reservoir and distributing reservoirs forming feed ducts to the distributing reservoirs.

2. In a gravity feed inking appliance for the type bars of a typewriter, the combination with a reservoir and spaced type bar guides of a typewriter, of inking pad holders mounted in front of the type bar guides, absorbent inking pads secured within the holders with their adjacent free edges overlapped in the path of travel of a type bar moving between the guides, said type bar picking up ink from the pads, and means for supplying inking fluid from the reservoir to the pads.

ROBERT H. HIGGINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: Y

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 463,464 Spiro Nov. 17, 1891 474,235 Free May 3, 1892 667,929 Burridge Feb. 12, 1901 799,683 Smith Sept. 19, 1905 1,593,674 Botter et al July 27, 1926 

